Dear Poem

by Julie Hoffman

Dear Poem,
Do you have any deep insights for me?
Sometimes, I come at you with
Unrealistic expectations
As if you are my psychic,
Or psychologist,
And I expect you to
Do the work
To unravel me
To save me
To love me
To lead me.
I do not want to
Trivialize your power,
Reducing you to a sterile collection of words.
Nor, do I want to burden you
With more than I should ask,
Demanding supernatural
Metaphysical
Otherwordly
Truths
That I cannot access elsewhere.
Perhaps,
Dear Poem,
I should just
Let you be
And I should
Listen
To what you have to say.